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I think I promised a new and improved positive diary earlier on in the summer

I'll try my best to keep it short and sweet, (unlike my credit card statements). Cutting a long story short, after renovating the house and an accidental car purchase (hey, it could've been a house!) we are probably better candidates for DFW

We're now left with a much more relaxing house (we just finished our bedroom), a new car and £20,000 in credit card debt

The new job goes fairly well, all things considered and our budget is starting to balance on a month-to-month basis. Basically I've said yes to everything, which is lovely, but immature. Mrs E realises the lie of the land and is supporting efforts to get back on an even keel. I'm eb@ying, saving cashback and making overpayments every Monday.

DD and Mrs E are doing fabby, DD is the apple of our eye and remains chatty, affectionate and madcap

But mostly a tax-cutting budget. When do we traditionally have a tax-cutting budget?

Just before an election - buying popularity and all that...

"Follow the money!" - Deepthroat (AKA William Mark Felt Sr - Associate Director of the FBI)"We were born and raised in a summer haze." Adele 'Someone like you.'"Blowing your mind, 'cause you know what you'll find, when you're looking for things in the sky." OMD 'Julia's Song'

Have been keeping my head down, making CC payments and finishing off our Christmas shopping. Also very pleased at the arrival of another nephew, taking my uncle-ing duties up to 6

I think we've managed to get all of our presents within budget, albeit a very generous budget that will probably need to be a wee bit more restrained next year.

Work has been a total PITA of late, more politics than I can be bothered with and I have ended up dragged into the mire. I am looking forward to a positive start and moving away from all that in the New Year.

"A large income is the best recipe for happiness I ever heard of" Jane Austen in Mansfield Park.***Fall down seven times,stand up eight*** ~~Japanese proverb.It starts with you, it starts from now. *** It is ok to be me.***
***Keep plodding*** Out of debt, out of danger.

Our actual spending down there wasn't too horrific (I think about £130 including loads of activities, meals out, inexpensive toys for DD and some Christmas presents). That said, total cost was in the region of £1,400, so need to consider in the world of mindful spending whether that's a cost we are willing to accept for what was a short trip?

Unfortunately the train was 45 minutes late on the way back, but Virg1n have already started a 50% refund for the total cost of the tickets. Not bad, we got 3 people to London and back in 1st Class for £37

In the realm of making more money, Mrs E has sent over a job that I probably have 2/3 of the required skills for. It's another local government post (pay grade starts lower than I get now, but tops out higher). Does it look bad that I'd consider applying for a new job 5 months into a new job after spending 6 years elsewhere? This looks like more of a solo professional role, so probably better scope to make something for myself...

In the realm of making more money, Mrs E has sent over a job that I probably have 2/3 of the required skills for. It's another local government post (pay grade starts lower than I get now, but tops out higher). Does it look bad that I'd consider applying for a new job 5 months into a new job after spending 6 years elsewhere? This looks like more of a solo professional role, so probably better scope to make something for myself...
.

Go for the job - nothing to lose. I answered an ad recently, sent in the application form, got invited to interview, felt like I had waffled the entire time in the interview, yet two days later got offered the job..

I am thinking about going back to London at some point next year.. I usually use the Youth Hostel system. There are 8 just in the YHA (but there are other groups as well). I only know the YHA and SYHA, but there if you go for a dorm a night would cost approx. £20!! (YES EVEN IN LONDON!!) and there are family rooms or smaller rooms available too (slightly higher price) and some even have single rooms too..

When I visit a place I want to do things, not pay for the walls I rarely see.

Some of the YHA properties are very central, cracking deals to be had.

I hear those sentiments a lot, but we don't travel all that often. When we do (particularly with a young child), you do end up spending a reasonable amount of time in your room, whether you like it or not. On that basis, I have no qualms spending a bit more for something less basic

Some of the YHA properties are very central, cracking deals to be had.

I hear those sentiments a lot, but we don't travel all that often. When we do (particularly with a young child), you do end up spending a reasonable amount of time in your room, whether you like it or not. On that basis, I have no qualms spending a bit more for something less basic

It's a sensible idea - when my brother, my sister and I were in Norfolk to see our sick rellie recently, we rented a whole 3 bed house, which did exactly what you're describing, instead of 3 nondescript hotel bedrooms. No idea what airbnb prices are like in London though. In the past, when I was working in London and wanted to get a very early start to a journey up north, I stayed in a few odd hotels - found one with a kitchen in the room just outside London Victoria but it wasn't, how shall I say, somewhere I'd take a child

Thanks PB - I think mental sums it up pretty well - was pretty much ok apart from having to deadlift her between Monument and Bank

We could have gone abroad, but that wouldn't have been London

We have had a lovely weekend! Tree and outside lights up yesterday with a Christmas movie in the evening and off to visit my grandparents today. DD in a great mood and I even managed to find time to go to my local running shop and get some gait analysis this morning. I am now decked out with suitable running shoes

No regrets about London apart from not saving up the cost of the hotel in advance Still, we have stopped that nonsense now

FI course? I read my way through the first volume required to progress to a Diploma in regulated financial planning, if that's what you mean? It wasn't a 'FI course' tho. The more I think about FI, the less I think you need books. Choose something vaguely diversified to invest in, save a high proportion of your wages, wait

I am absolutely scunnered to be back at work after the week off, just gritting my teeth and keeping my head down. Trying to be more positive in other areas.

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